Most of these money saving tips and tricks aren’t obvious, but they make a lot of sense and they’re easy to do!
We also added advice from four dads, because once in a while a dad has a good idea too but don’t tell them or they’ll want it bronzed! See below for our total of 23 great money saving tips from real moms (and dads).
Use Amazon Savings
Julie Hewke from Maine gives a money saving tip about saving money with Amazon.
“My biggest money saver was using the Amazon Mom and the Amazon Subscribe & Save service, especially for diapers and wipes, but also for household items. I think the percentage you save is lower now (15% instead of 20%), but still a big discount. They also have an ‘open box’ store that gives deep discounts on products with damaged packaging, so often you can score a cheap case of never-opened product because it has a dent. Yard sales and thrift stores are a given, but toy consignment shops are where it’s at as well.”
For tips on how to use Amazon like Julie says, check out our article 18 Money Saving Tips on Amazon.
Make Your Own Baby Wipes
Roll Your Own
Cindy Chamberlain of West Virginia says, “Nursing is healthier and more cost effective than formula but it also has to work for the mom and baby. Making your own baby food and baby wipes can save a lot of money. Clothing swaps and hand me down clothes and baby items are awesome especially in the first year because nothing is used for very long. I also clip coupons.”
Gwen Hagaman of California says, “I think packaged baby food is a big money drain. I used a fork to mash some of the foods from our regular meals to give to my baby. He was able to enjoy more variety and it saved a lot of money. If you are a spicy cook, you can remove a small amount for your child before the seasoning goes in.”
Read: 5 Ways to Save Big Money on a Baby
Don’t Buy Extra to Save!
Callie Phillips Pecunies of Maine says, “We made our own baby food, but didn’t go the route of any special baby food maker. Just steamed the food and used a good old food processor. Another tip – resist the temptation to buy every gadget on the market. Once you have one child, you realize how short a time they actually use any of them. For example – a baby food maker. They eat food like that for about 6 months at the most.”
Lauren Farrell from Mexico says, “Using a Thermos with hot water works for warming wipes. Just put the wipes on top and turn it over to warm them instantly for cheaper than a wipe warmer.”
Coupons Are a Mom’s Best Friend
Insider Information
Hand Me Downs
Read: How Much Does a Baby Cost in America?
No Second Hand Car Seats
From Chelsea Bricker Carnefix of West Virginia: “I think it’s important to note that while used items are great, you should never purchase a used car seat!”
Fight the Power
Molly Wolff of West Virginia says, “I agree with Maura. Wipes warmers and crazy crap? Pshhhh. You can use reusable wipes too instead of even buying them.”
Sarah Inman from Louisiana says, “Whenever my son begs for useless crap from the store, I offer to put a dollar in his piggy bank instead of buying another piece of plastic.”
Nora Morris, Mrs. West Virginia, says, “We skipped the whole “kids needs every plastic toy on the market” thing. Make a toy. Find something fun outside. Whatever. Just skip the chemically-treated plastic junk. It’s totally unnecessary. Mud holes. Sticks. Wooden blocks. Trees. Cardboard boxes. You name it! I sound like a cheapskate, I know. But I like to think I’m a *practical* cheapskate!”
Save Money With Mommy Earth
Casey Davis Monnier of Maine says, “Have a garden, harvest, can and freeze.”
Read: Money Tips: 4 Ways to Save Money on Child Care Costs
Save Money With Thredup
Jo-Beth Stamm of West Virginia says, “I love Thredup.com. It’s an online consignment shop. Cheap, quality clothes. They’re strict about what can be sold, so it’s all in good shape. Way cheaper than buying kids new clothes every season as they grow.”
Splurge Small
Money Saving Baby Tips From the Dads Corner
Hugh Mclaughlin says, “We bought a “Beaba” baby food maker and made our own baby food. Way cheaper than buying it at the store, and less packaging and waste.” According to Julie Hewke, homemade baby food can even be frozen in ice cube trays for proper serving size and thawed out later. Hugh also adds, “Don’t take your kids to the store with you if you can help it. They always want something in the toy section, or the candy in the checkout aisle.”
Cindy Chamberlain comments, “Totally agree about reading baby magazines, the marketing in them lead you to believe you need so many things for a baby when each baby’s and family’s needs vary. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to have a happy happy baby. Surrounding yourself with like minded and positive friends also helps take some pressure off.”
Read: 5 Ways to Save Now Even if You Don’t Make Much Money
Laurel Lynn Hill’s Homemade Baby Wipes Recipe:
Get a used disposable plastic container as big around as a roll of paper towels, plus a roll of soft paper towels, coconut oil and baby soap. Boil two cups of water. Let the water cool, then add one teaspoon of coconut oil and one teaspoon of soap to the water and mix. Cut the paper towel roll in half and remove the cardboard tube. Put the tubeless half-roll of paper towels in the container and add the liquid. Pull the center paper towel up so you can pull the paper towels out one by one with ease! One word of caution: use within a week so the wipes don’t get moldy.